iPhone and iPad users warned of Tumblr security update

SOCIAL BLOGGING SERVICE Tumblr has warned iPhone and iPad users about a security update and advised them to install it.

In a blog post on its website Tumblr stressed the importance of the release, saying that the update is "very important". Apparently if you have an iPhone or iPad you should install the update now, otherwise you might not be able to post photos of cats, ducks, and cats doing duck faces.

"We have just released a very important security update for our iPhone and iPad apps addressing an issue that allowed passwords to be compromised in certain circumstances. Please download the update now," it said.

As well as downloading and updating users are asked to consider using different passwords for every online service that they use, and using password generators to create them.

"If you've been using these apps, you should also update your password on Tumblr and anywhere else you may have been using the same password," added Tumblr.

"Please know that we take your security very seriously and are tremendously sorry for this lapse and inconvenience."

Visiting the iTunes store for more information about the Tumblr update offers just a glib "Security fix" notation under the new features tab.

The blog says that the "certain circumstances" involved in any attack would require passwords to be sniffed while in transit, so apparently the Tumblr app for iOS devices was sending passwords as clear text. Reportedly the Android version of Tumblr is not affected.